Glycosuria can be produced in a healthy man by giving a large quantity of glucose early in the morning, the stomach being empty. The quantity of glucose necessary to produce this effect varies from 4 V, to 5 ounces. It is nec essary that this quantity be given all at once. The occurrence of this so-called alimentary glycosuria depends not only on the quantity of glucose taken, but also on the rapidity of absorption.
In cases of marasmus, anemia, cir rhosis of the liver, progressive muscular atrophy, and arteriosclerosis no dimin ished power of sugar destruction could be detected. But in cases of neurasthe nia or traumatic neuroses there was a di minished power of sugar destruction, and glycosuria could be induced more read ily than in health. In cases of habitual drinkers of large quantities of beer, gly cosuria could be readily induced by 3, 2 V„ or even ounces of grape-sugar. The same condition the author discov ered in some cases after the drinking of an excessive quantity of beer (2 quarts) rapidly. Alimentary glycosuria does not occur in all great beer-drinkers. A. Striimpell (Berliner klin. Woch., No. 46, '96).
Investigations on about 800 patients, representing a great variety of diseases. In 75 cases autopsies were performed and histological studies of the pancreas were conducted. Although disease of the pan creas does not invariably produce ali mentary glycosuria, yet when the latter occurs regularly in any case it is very likely that some pathological change has taken place in the gland. Alimentary glycosuria aparently represents an early stage of diabetes mellitus, and may be an important diagnostic indication for the existence of disease of the pancreas. Wille (Deutsches Archiv f. klin. Med., Aug. 18, '99).
Alimentary glycosuria does not depend on a local disturbance, but on the low ered capacity of the organism to assimi late dextrose. This constitutional lower ing of the assimilation limit represents a sign of degeneration in a chemical sense. Emil Eaimann (Wiener klin. Woch., Feb. 22 and Mar. 1, 1900).
Transitory glycosuria has been ob served after concussion of the brain and apoplexy, after violent neuralgia and mental sufferings.
Study made of 211 cases of head injuries in order to determine the fre quency of traumatic glycosuria and its possible relation to the nature of the lesion. There were in the 211 cases 20 that presented glycosuria.
Conclusions: 1. After head - injury sugar may appear in the urine as early as six hours and disappear within twenty-four, the average time for its appearance, however, being from eight to twelve hours; for the disappearance of the same, from the fifth to the ninth day.
2. A small proportion of the cases may exhibit a permanent glycosuria from the date of injury to the head. 3. Acetone and diacetic acid are rarely, if ever, found in such cases, excepting where the condition becomes a permanent glyco suria, and even then probably only after a number of months or years. 4. Of the 20 sugar cases here recorded, 11 (55 per cent.) had received an injury to the right side of the head; 5 (25 per cent.) to the left side; 3 (15 per cent.) to the occiput; and in 2 (10 per cent.) there were no external evidences of violence. 5. Of the 20 cases, S died,-6 deaths being the direct result of severe injuries, 1 from intercurrent disease, and the third probably from alcoholism. In the 211 cases, 16 were fatal, 50 per cent. of these having glycosuria. Higgens and Ogden (Boston Med. and Surg. Jour., Feb. 2S, '05).
Case of glycosuria in which death followed speedily after the passage of a sound employed to search for vesical calculus. Glycosuria may cause localized urinary- symptoms, thus causing danger of vesical instrumentation in these cases. Bazy (Archives GC:n6rales de M6d., June, '95).
Case of glycosuria apparently depend ent upon the presence of numerous thread-worms in a child of 5 years. After expulsion of the worms by san tonin the glycosuria disappeared and the child regained its former health. Parry (Brit. Sled. Jour., June S, '95).
In frogs with a normal liver glycosuria constantly follows tying all four limbs with the animal lying on its back; in the prone position it is evoked only by very powerful traction. If the liver is not normal the glycosuria does not occur, and it can be prevented in any case by division of the sciatic nerves. Confine ment of a frog head downward in a nar row cylinder so that it is unable to more entails glycosuria, which is here also pre vented by section of the sciatics. Extir pation of the liver inhibits this "restraint glycosuria." Restraint glycosuria is un affected by stimulation of the sciatics, which of itself tends to cause the ap pearance of sugar in the urine; similar effects follow section of the cord above the entrance of the roots of the sciatic and also perforation of the lumbar cord. Bilateral extirpation of the lungs or ob struction of the air-passages causes gly cosuria. Hence restraint glycosuria may originate from an unusual position of the body, from powerful motor-nerve. stimulation, and from great diminution of the respiratory capacity. Velich (Wien. klin. Ruud., Slay 17 and 24, 96).